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Creative and Critical Practice at University of Sussex - UCAS

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2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

A Creative and Critical Practice PhD at Sussex develops your practice-led research in creative media production alongside critically engaged writing. Your research might involve a variety of practical approaches including video, photography and imaging, interactive media, sound, social media or process-based performative methods. At Sussex, you’ll be able to take part in the:

  • Centre for Photography and Visual Culture
  • Centre for Research in Creative and Performing Arts.
You can also participate in the Sussex Humanities Lab, which is dedicated to developing and expanding interdisciplinary research at the cutting edge of digital humanities and digital media. In Brighton, you’ll join a vibrant community for the arts and creative industries. We offer expert supervision across a wide range of critical and creative practice:
  • filmmaking and documentary forms
  • digital arts
  • photography
  • media practice for development and social change
  • sonic media.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Modules

The 1st term is devoted to developing the research plan – typically refining research questions, designing a methodology and production plan, engaging in a literature review. By the end of the 1st year (or 2nd year if you study part time), you produce and present your 1st research paper or project, moving to complete the production of the creative work and written component over the next 2 years (or 4, if you study part time). You have access to our extensive studios, editing suites and equipment. All our facilities are bookable online and available for student access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via an access-control system. The practical component should fully exploit the medium (or media) in which it is working and should make a contribution to the thesis that could not have been made in words. It should not be merely illustrative of the theory but must make an original contribution in its own right, which relates back, in an integral fashion, to the theoretical component of the thesis. Recent PhD thesis titles include: life art/live art: a critical-visual study of three women performance artists and their documentation; u know them by their fruit: unfinalising the ‘extreme other self’ in documentary filmmaking.

Assessment method

Progress is monitored by supervision meetings, annual reports, and an annual interview by a review panel. The thesis is presented as a substantial body of creative practice and a written element of 20000-40000 words (PhD) or 10000-20000 words (MPhil). The thesis is judged by an internal and an external examiner. The examination includes an oral defence.

Entry requirements

You’re normally expected to have a Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Masters degree and an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree. Your qualification should be in a subject relevant to your chosen area of research. You must also supply examples – such as digital/scanned images or film/video/sound clips – of your practical work. This should ideally relate to your proposed research in an easily downloadable format. If applicable, supply links to your practice work online. You may also be considered for the degree if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Please click on the course URL to see up-to-date fee information.

Sponsorship information

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Creative and Critical Practice at University of Sussex - UCAS